Myofibre injury induces capillary disruption and regeneration of disorganized microvascular networks

Injury to skeletal muscle disrupts myofibres and their microvascular supply. While the regeneration of myofibres is well described, little is known of how the microcirculation is affected by skeletal muscle injury or its recovery during regeneration. Nevertheless, the microvasculature must also recover to restore skeletal muscle function. We aimed to define the nature of microvascular damage and time course of repair during muscle injury and regeneration induced by the myotoxin BaCl2. To test the hypothesis that microvascular disruption occurred secondary to myofibre injury, isolated microvessels were exposed to BaCl2 or the myotoxin was injected into the gluteus maximus (GM) muscle of mice. In isolated microvessels, BaCl2 depolarized smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and endothelial cells while increasing intracellular calcium in SMCs but did not elicit death of either cell type. At 1 day post-injury (dpi) of the GM, capillary fragmentation coincided with myofibre degeneration while arteriolar and venular networks remained intact; neutrophil depletion before injury did not prevent capillary damage. Perfused capillary networks reformed by 5 dpi in association with more terminal arterioles and were dilated through 10 dpi. With no change in microvascular area or branch point number in regenerating capillary networks, fewer capillaries aligned with myofibres and were no longer organized into microvascular units. By 21 dpi, capillary orientation and microvascular unit organization were no longer different from uninjured GM. We conclude that following their disruption secondary to myofibre damage, capillaries regenerate as disorganized networks that remodel into microvascular units as regenerated myofibres mature. Key points Skeletal muscle regenerates after injury; however, the nature of microvascular damage and repair is poorly understood. Here, the myotoxin BaCl2, a standard experimental method of acute skeletal muscle injury, was used to investigate the response of the microcirculation to local injury of intact muscle. Intramuscular injection of BaCl2 induced capillary fragmentation with myofibre degeneration; arteriolar and venular networks remained intact. Direct exposure to BaCl2 did not kill microvascular endothelial cells or smooth muscle cells. Dilated capillary networks reformed by 5 days post-injury (dpi) in association with more terminal arterioles. Capillary orientation remained disorganized through 10 dpi. Capillaries realigned with myofibres and reorganized into microvascular units by 21 dpi, which coincides with the recovery of vasomotor control and maturation of nascent myofibres. Skeletal muscle injury disrupts its capillary supply secondary to myofibre degeneration. Reorganization of regenerating microvascular networks accompanies the recovery of blood flow regulation.

Automated summary

Skeletal muscle injury disrupts capillary supply due to myofibre degeneration. Regeneration of microvascular networks accompanies the recovery of blood flow regulation. BaCl2-induced microcirculation response sheds light on the nature of microvascular damage and repair.